Afternoon, friends! We had a slight delay in getting into the regular fun of What I Ate Wednesday today. And with good reason, too. I’m loving all the comments, perspectives, and general thoughts in my last post on blogging money and page views talk. Have you weighed in, yet? I would love to hear your feedback! It is something I value and I believe this is a discussion worth sharing. So, hop on over and drop a line there before diving into some delicious What I Ate Wednesday action. Gotta love Jen and her link round-ups for inspiring great meal ideas!

Since I felt compelled to talk about blog money and page views this morning, we have to do a little backing up to yesterday afternoon and evening. After my sweat fest of a workout with my favorite at home cardio workout,Peter suggested taking a short walk around the neighborhood as a family. It’s one of our favorite ways to pass time together.

We even had to bundle up a bit! The temperatures dropped, so I had to bust out my Champion jacket from the Shape Your Life ambassador program (look for a review tonight!).

After our walk, I came home with dinner determination. It was time to tackle another previously hated food. Last week, I gave asparagus another failed shot…and this week, I wanted to give quinoa another try and had this handy sample from the Healthy Living Summit.

One of the lunches at Healthy Living Summit featured a quinoa dish that I drooled over. It was incredible! Before that, I had tried quinoa once with a recipe of my own…and hated it. I realized that my problem was having a bland ole quinoa. I always wanted to love quinoa (hello??? easy, quick, and nutritional powerhouse!!) and figured I would make an effort again, making sure to use a recipe with a little more pizazz.

Enter Mama Pea’s vegetarian jambalaya from her book. Enter a newfound love of quinoa and an even greater appreciation of Sarah and her genius ways with food.

I now want to rack up a million and one quinoa recipes and eat it every week for the rest of my life. Do you see another food kick starting around here?

Delicious food doesn’t stop there! This morning after a drizzly five mile run, I came home hankering for a warm bowl of oatmeal. Go figure, right? I did want something a little more decadent and special though, so I crafted a chocolate strawberry oats bowl.

Oats with cocoa powder, chopped strawberries, raisins, peanut butter, and an Adora chocolate calcium disc chopped and sprinkled on top.

Bowl-licking good!

It filled me up and powered me right through until lunch – which featured more quinoa jambalaya, an apple, and slices of sharp cheddar. I am loving on the cheddar lately. Hmmm… wonder if I could find a way to combine my two new obsessions. A quinoa sharp cheddar “macaroni & cheese”, perhaps? Or maybe I should play it safe and stick with tried and true recipes. I don’t want to find myself hating on the little grain balls again, after all!

• Do you have a quinoa recipe you can share? Link it up!
• How often do you lick your dishes clean? Daily! Oats are just too good!

Another small group meeting at church meant another dinner of combined forces…aka (mostly) free food.

Our group has started doing a salad bar dinner when we meet for our “Grow Group” study mid-week. It fits perfectly because everyone brings different salad toppings, dressings, etc to contribute to the salad bar, so it ends up being a good spread of items without breaking the bank. Or making anyone cook. Both of which I greatly appreciate.

I loaded up my plate with some mixed lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, olives, and garbanzo beans. Then, I topped it all off with a light, yet creamy, Sweet Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette. That’s what I’m talking about, baby.

I went back to pile my veggie mountain with a bit more olives, cucumbers, and garbanzo beans mid-way through digging in. So delicious. I can certainly get used to this! And we’re even thinking of starting a different themed salad every week we meet – Santa Fe, Fruit & Nuts, Goat Cheese & Beets! Okay, I threw that last one in there. I don’t know how well that combo would go over. Sadly. Either way, I love that our group has come together to make sharing a meal not only cheap and easy, but healthy too!

In addition to our salad bar, my friend Danielle brought a small glazed chocolate cake she picked up to share.

kind of like this one [source]

Despite my friend’s kindness in bringing a dessert, I had to pass. You all know I only love cake if it includes gobs of frosting, so I knew I wouldn’t feel this cake. Sometimes it’s hard because I want to extend the courtesy of eating what someone contributed at a meal, but I also stand by eating what satisfies me and not eating just because something is there. Luckily Danielle and I are *likethis* so I knew she wouldn’t take offense when I politely declined a slice. And even though she knows I would go grab myself a serving of ice cream when I got home instead.

• Any good salad theme recommendations you have for our group?
• Do you ever feel the pressure to be polite with food? How do you handle it?